Two Typhoon jets were launched from RAF Lossiemouth in Scotland on Saturday after an incursion by Russian jets.

“Two Typhoons were scrambled from RAF Lossiemouth this morning as part of the RAF’s Quick Reaction Alert in response to two Russian aircraft entering the UK’s airspace” the MoD said in a statement.

“Both aircraft have now returned safely to RAF Lossiemouth.”

A Voyager tanker was also been deployed from RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire.

Typhoons were also sent to monitor two Russian Tupolev TU-160 Blackjack bombers, which passed near UK airspace in February.

Earlier in the month HMS Somerset shadowed a Russian submarine as it passed through the English Channel.

The Plymouth-based ship located the Kilo-class diesel-electric submarine Krasnodar in the early hours as it sailed past the eastern coast of the UK.

HMS Somerset, a Type 23 frigate, then followed her through the Dover Strait and the rest of the English Channel over the weekend.

Commander Tim Berry, the Commanding Officer of HMS Somerset, said:

“Policing the sea both in home waters and further afield is core business for the Royal Navy.Escorting foreign warships, in this case a Russian submarine, through UK waters is just part of our ongoing effort to protect our island nation.”

I don’t understand why they need refuelling to protect the British airspace. If true then we clearly need to rethink locations of air bases to mean the jets can protect our airspace without needing risky refuelling.

Refuelling is necessary if the jets need to stay on station for a prolonged period of time, and a second pair would be scrambled before the first pair head for the tanker. It’s primarily a matter of time on station rather than distance to intercept.

The Submarine on the surface obviously wants hiding hence being on the surface. The Commanding officer what’s to get real. If the Kilo was in a hostile moon he would have known about the Kilos existance until the Kilo had blown his ships bow off.

The Submarine on the surface obviously was not hiding hence being on the surface. The Commanding officer what’s to get real. If the Kilo was in a hostile moon he would have known about the Kilos existance until the Kilo had blown his ships bow off.

The Submarine on the surface obviously was not hiding hence being on the surface. The Commanding officer really needs’ to get real. If the Kilo was in a hostile moon he would have known about the Kilos existance until the Kilo had blown his ships bow off.

The Submarine on the surface obviously was not hiding hence being on the surface. The Commanding officer really needs’ to get real. If the Kilo was in a hostile mood he would have known about the Kilos existance until the Kilo had blown his ships bow off.

The Submarine on the surface obviously was not hiding hence being on the surface. The Commanding officer really needs’ to get real. If the Kilo was in a hostile mood he wouldnt have known about the Kilos existance until the Kilo had blown his ships bow off.

If UK airspace was violated by a foreign military aircraft that would be a serious incident, and I would think the ambassador would be hauled in to explain and receive our protests. On other occasions it has been stated that the Russians at no time entered UK airspace, meaning they stayed in our aerial area of interest. Not so serious but I think they fly with transponders off, so a potential hazard to commercial aircraft, and of course they have to be intercepted. I suppose it is good practice for all involved on our side just in case they have to do it for real someday.

The alert aircraft can be airborne for hours shadowing the aircraft. They do not come into UK airspace but international airspace which they are entitled to fly in. I think UK airspace is only 12 miles from the coast. If they got that close there would be problems! I have seen Bear d’s come down as far as Norwich obviously a long way from the coast. At the weekend there are sometimes only 4 aircraft available 2 north 2 south, so at times things can get a bit stretched. The tanker is airborne to obviously refuel the aircraft. If one of the north aircraft has a tech problem and has to rtf. The south aircraft would have to refuel when he gets up north as he would probably have gone up there with afterburners on and supersonic. Sometimes there can be several Russian aircraft flying down, hence again the need for the tanker. I hope this makes things a little clearer. I thought the Cold War was over when I served in the 80’s in the fighter control branch, but obviously it hasn’t